Shannon O Higgins
Shannon Higgins was born in Calif. USA and spent his early childhood in Eugene Oregon. In Jan. 1978, he moved to Japan along with his parents as Baha'i Pioneers and spent the rest of his childhood in Yamaguchi, Japan.
He started photography at the age of five, when his Grandparents gave him his first Kodak Instomatic. [strike one]
Spending most of his youth-hood traveling back and forth between Korea, Japan, and Taiwan and spending a year of back in the States, he ended up finding a deep passion towards photography. [Strike two]
After graduating from Osaka University of Arts (Osaka, Japan- majored in photography) , Shannon started his work as a freelance photojournalist. [Strike three and he's out]
He has a cover shot for NEWSWEEK international (cover story, Japan's dirty secret) and is working for most of the major magazines in Japan, and many other magazines internationally.
Some of his clients: Toshiba EMI, Virgin Records International, Nikkei Newspaper (J), Asahi Newspaper (J), Weekly Asahi (J), Aera (J), Newsweek (international), East (Asia), Courrier International (FR), Weekly Playboy (J), Sports Graphic NUMBER (J), SPORTIVA(J),President (J), Weekly Bunshun (J), Monthly Bungeishunju (J), Weekly Shincho (J), Tokyo Walker (J), Serai (J), Ieno-Hikari (J), Asahi Personal Computing (J). and many more.
The Big Ones (a bimonthly series of portraits of some of the most famous and respected public figures in Japan)
A two page advertisement for Takeda Pharmaceutical.
Photographs-- Weekly Bunshun & Weekly Shincho *this series started in April 1999 and ended in the summer of 2003.
Watashi ni Nozomi ari: (a series of portraits of well known public figures in Japan) A two page advertisement for Japan Railways -Tokai (this series was to promote the new 700 series bullet train in Japan).
Photographs-- Monthly Bungeishunju. From March 1998 to March 1999
Japan's Dirty Secret (a story on Japanese teen prostitution) --Cover Photo & Photographs--NEWSWEEK
Iranian Connection (a story on the rising teen drug problem in Japan, and the increasing numbers of Iranian dealers) -- story and photos--Asahi Weekly(J)
An interview with The Artist (one-on-one interview with "the Artist Formerly Known as the Prince")--interview and photos--Asahi Weekly(J)
The Kobe Earthquake (the Kobe earthquake of 95/01/17)--story and photos--Asahi Weekly, AERA, "the day the camera trembled" -compilation of the works of photographers who covered the earthquake-published by Asahi Newspaper
Colors--Rickson Gracie (interview with Rickson Gracie, one of the -if not the most- strongest ju-jutsu fighters alive)--interview and photos--Asahi Graph (J)
Drug-City, Tokyo (documentary of the rising drug market in Japan)--photos--AERA (J)
10 years in Kamagasaki (documentary on the largest slum in Japan) ---story and photos--RonZa (J)
Onbashira (photo story of one of the wildest Japanese traditional festivals that happens once every 7 years, in Suwa Nagano) ---photos and text--Chijo Magazine (J)
Interview with Jesse Jackson (for a special issue to commemorate the 30 years from the death of MLK Jr.) ---interview and photo's--Asahi Graph (J)
Interview with Louis Farrakhan (for a special issue to commemorate the 30 years from the death of MLK Jr.) ---interview and photo's--Asahi Graph (J)
Koshien 96 ~ 04 (Koshien is the largest baseball event in Japan. A national single elimination tournament for 48 the state champs of High school base ball. 5500 High schools participate yearly) -----Cover photo from 1996 to 2004) -Weekly Asahi
The Bleachers - a Table top photography book of Japanese Baseball Fans cheering on in the Koshien Stadium (J)
And much much more..... Including photoshoots and interviews with:
Norah Jones, Angelina Jolie, Shakirah, Matchbox Twenty, Sammy Sosa, Angel Belloa, Alfonso Soriana, Bob Sapp, and more.
He also has worked on photo projects in Russia, China, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, USA, Israel, and Korea.